Mysuru: A day-long workshop on “Cultivation, Processing and Marketing aspects of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants” for farmers was organised at Ave Maria Auditorium, Teresian College here recently.  

About 150 farmers and traders from Gadag, Hubballi, Hassan, Chamarajanagar, Mandya, Bengaluru and Mysuru participated in the workshop sponsored by Kerala Forest Research Institute, Kerala.

Dr. Chaco, Regional Director of Kerala Forest Regional Institute, highlighted the importance of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants and their increasing demand in the international markets. Farmers should come forward to cultivate such medicinal plants in Karnataka and the Institute will provide the basic needs to start the cultivation and processing of medicinal plants, he added.  

Dr. U.M. Chandrashekar, Senior Principal Scientist, Kerala Forest and Research Institute, assured to provide technical assistance to start medicinal plants cultivation in the State.

Dr. V. Sundaresan, Regional Director, Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CIMAP), Bengaluru, mentioned about the activities for farmers and to utilise the benefits given by the Aroma Mission.

He also stated that CIMAP has released high yielding varieties of crops according to the weather conditions.

Scientists from CIMAP gave lectures on Cultivation and Processing of Lemongrass, Palmarosa, Geranium, Aleovera, Ashwagandha, Lavancha and Tulasi during the workshop.

Dr. Bhagyalakshmi Neelwarne briefed about the importance of Aromatic and Medicinal Plants of Karnataka and their uses.

Janachetana Trust President Prasanna N. Gowda motivated the farmers to start the cultivation at least in 25% of their lands. If a group of farmers wish to start clusters in Mysuru region, he assured to help them with funds from National Medicinal Plants Board and Aroma Mission. He also gave a lecture on e-charak, which is specifically developed for marketing the medicinal plants in India.